Thieves have made off with the last big sandalwood tree at Cubbon Park. The daring robbery took place a few metres away from Vidhana Soudha, the state's seat of power, on Monday night.

The urban Veerappans uprooted the 10-foot-tall tree and, using a battery-operated saw, cut it into smaller pieces before vanishing with the booty.

The culprits used battery-operated saw machines to chop the full-grown tree

The robbery seems to have been meticulously planned as the thieves struck on a night when the entire police machinery of the Central division, in whose jurisdiction Cubbon Park falls, was busy with the Karaga festival and Tuesday’s IPL match at the nearby Chinnaswamy stadium.

At one time, the 140-year-old park had scores of sandalwood trees. Ten years ago, only six of the big trees were left.

Bangalore Mirror

Dr M Jagadish, deputy director, horticulture, Cubbon Park, said, “This was the last tree with a sizeable girth. The remaining 21 trees are still very small.”

A police officer from Vidhan Soudha police station said, “An organised band of thieves was active in the area a year ago, and had cut a sandalwood tree inside the park.”

Recent Messages ()

Please rate before posting your Review

OR PROCEED WITHOUT REGISTRATION

Share on Twitter

SIGN IN WITH

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.